<h4>Chapter 1131: Chapter 1131</h4>


    That night, all twelve wives stood with Jude at the basin’s edge, torches lit, the stars low and heavy above them. The jungle circled them in silence, waiting. Watching.


    Susan stepped forward first, chalk and oil in hand, and began drawing watcherscript across the inner walls of the basin. Not symbols of protection or warning, but of presence. Of belonging. As she worked, the others began to hum, low, steady notes that mirrored their breath, their hearts.


    A song of twelve voices, woven around one man.


    When thest symbol was drawn, Jude stepped into the center and raised the broken shard. "This ind hears us. It remembers. And now it will remember this."


    He dropped the shard into a bowl filled with water and ash. The moment it sank, the watcherscript red gold. Not blue. Not red.


    Gold.


    The basin trembled.


    And then it answered, with a voice like wind through every tree, a whisper that touched every skin.


    Not Elyara’s voice.


    The ind’s.


    It epted them.


    It remembered them.


    But even in that sacred moment, Rose shivered.


    Because behind the trees, far beyond the basin’s light, a single watchersign red in cold white.


    And beneath it, one more word:


    Tonight.


    The basin still glowed faintly in the dark, golden light rippling like breath against the etched watcherscript. None of them spoke as they walked back through the trees. Noughter, no teasing, not even soft hands brushing against shoulders the way they usually did. It wasn’t silence borne of fear, it was something else. Something deeper. A hush before a storm. They all felt it. The ind felt tighter tonight, as though it too was holding its breath. Leaves didn’t rustle. Bugs didn’t chirp. Even the river near camp flowed quieter.


    Jude kept Sophie beside him, her fingersced through his, and Rose walked behind them, barefoot and silent. Her face unreadable. asionally, she tilted her head toward the forest, as though listening for something just outside human hearing. The torches flickered with a strange rhythm, not from wind, but from the beat of their own footsteps.


    By the time they stepped into the firelight near their homes, the others were already waiting. Emma stood guard with her spear and a smudge of dirt across her cheek. Susan and Lucy had finishedying watcherscript in a ring around camp, reinforcing it with salt and powdered root. Scarlet stood watching the treeline, eyes narrowed, while Grace was kneeling with Ste and Natalie, whispering what looked like a prayer.


    "We saw another sign," Emma said the moment Jude approached. "At the far side of the river. Same glow. White again."


    Jude looked over his shoulder at the trees. "And?"


    "One word," she replied. "Begin."


    No one moved. No one had to ask what it meant. The countdown was over. Whatever Elyara was waiting for, it was starting now.


    "We stick together tonight," Jude said, loud enough for them all to hear. "No one alone. No splitting off. No rituals, no songs unless I say. Stay close. Watch each other’s faces. If anyone starts smiling the wrong way, say something."


    That earned a few stiff nods. La gave him a half-smirk. "And what’s the wrong kind of smiling, love?"


    "The kind you had after Rose kissed you," Emma said sharply, and the air got colder.


    La blinked, something twitching in her cheek. Then she looked away.


    "Exactly," Sophie said.


    The fire crackled louder. Every me felt like a heartbeat.


    They settled in close. Lucy curled up beside Susan with her arms tight around her waist. Ste leaned against Grace. Zoey sat beside La and Rose, watching them too carefully for it to be casual. Jude found himself at the center, as always, the women either touching or watching him, half seeking protection, half protecting him. Sophie didn’t leave his side, not even to blink.


    It should’ve feltforting.


    But it didn’t.


    Because he felt it too now.


    Something else was watching them.


    Not from the trees. Not from the watchersigns. But from inside.


    Natalie shivered and moved closer to Jude, nuzzling into his chest. "It feels like she’s already in the circle with us."


    "She is," Rose whispered, eyes on the fire. "She doesn’t need to walk in. She’s already here."


    "Then why wait?" Lucy asked. "Why this slow creeping ritual? Why not just take us again?"


    Sophie exhaled. "Because she wants us to let her. She feeds on invitation. Desire. Longing."


    "She seduces," Zoey said, and her tone was sharp, but it softened when her gaze met Rose’s. "And we keep getting seduced."


    Rose didn’t answer.


    Jude looked around at them, all of them, and realized something horrible.


    There were only eleven women in the circle.


    His heart skipped. "Where’s Scarlet?"


    They all looked.


    Gone.


    "She was near Grace," Ste said quickly. "She was just there, "


    "She must’ve stepped away," Grace said, standing. "Maybe to check the line?"


    "No one leaves the circle!" Jude snapped. He jumped to his feet and grabbed his torch. "Sophie, with me."


    But Rose was already moving, sprinting into the trees before anyone could stop her. Jude cursed and ran after her, Sophie close behind, their feet pounding through the underbrush.


    The jungle changed fast.


    Too fast.


    Paths twisted. Branches closed behind them. The light from the torch bent strangely, throwing elongated shadows across the leaves. Rose’s figure darted ahead, silent and graceful, weaving between trees like she knew the way.


    "She’s not leading us to Scarlet," Sophie panted. "She’s leading us away."


    "I know," Jude growled. "Keep your eyes on her hands."


    They came into a clearing.


    Empty.


    Just a circle of untouched grass. No trees. No wind. Just stillness.


    And in the center, Scarlet stood barefoot, arms at her sides, eyes wide.


    She was smiling.


    But not her smile.


    It was Elyara’s.


    Jude froze. "Scarlet?"


    She didn’t answer.


    Rose stepped toward her, one pace at a time. "She heard the word. Begin. And she obeyed."


    Sophie grabbed Jude’s arm. "We have to pull her back."